i think i have bipolar

[emmagav]

How do you know you have bipolar if you'v not seen a doctor?

[ShaDodd1]

I have the exact same issues as Gunnergirl described. I had been diagnosed as bipolar a couple of times in my past, but because I felt that bipolar was just the latest label doctors put on people seeking help for mental issues, I would not take anything. I started to seeing a Psychologist (who does not prescribe meds) to deal with my issues, and after a year she and I came to the conclusion that I do indeed have bipolar. I started medication from a Psychiatrist, and has evened out the moods to a manageable point. If you have bipolar, you would probably have lost friends, boyfriends and jobs often. It is very difficult for people to rely on someone who goes through severe mood swings. You might feel like you are two separate people. One who is outgoing and fun, then one who is withdrawn and anti-social. Everyone feels like those things at different times, but not to the levels that a bipolar person might. Before you get on any medication, start with a therapist or Psychologist, to see if what you are feeling is because of something that can be worked out through therapy.

[Anonymous235]

I was diagnosed with Bipolar disorder. After my mother kept hounding me to go to see someone about my mood swings. I mean it took her years. I was finally diagnosed with it almost 6 years ago.  I still don't have it completely under control. My mother is a Doctor but not a Psy. She kept telling me I had it. But she could not technically diagnose me with it. But people will notice your mood and one minute you are severly depressed and then maybe a few days/weeks later you are so happy with your life you don't understand why you were depressed in the first place. Those days are great, but you have to remember to keep taking your meds.  I get my good days/weeks and say I don't need my meds anymore then I stop taking them. Then depression hits all over again. Once you look at the symptons you should have a general idea if you really have it or not. I looked at the symptons before but what really made me go and see someone is in my psycology class we had to do a presentation on certain disorders.  Every student in the class go to choose their own except me. The date the project was assigned my professor came up to me and said I want you to research Bipolar disorder. Thats when I got more indepth about it. I finally realized I should see someone. Doesn't hurt to get advice.

[Gunnergirl]

I agree, I am in the process of being diagnosed because my mood swings have cost me my job and a few friends. They love me hyper until I get irritable and easily agitated. And they don't know what to think when I refuse to see them or cancel going to meet up because I'm depressed and dont want to leave my house. Its also interfering with my parenting. I'm either too tired to play, or irritable about the noise levels, or mild misbehaviour.
I only found out about bipolar while looking up mood disorders which is what I was told by the mental health nurse that is very likely to be the case as I actually went to the doc for depression.

[adel_ezz]

I apologize for my tone as if i underestimate what you feel. But the fact is that if I read about cardiac disease say then I can easily convince myself that I have tachycardia or arrhythmia. One rule of thumb in medicine is you don't plunge into treatment unless what you feel threatens your life. Psych illness is no exception. When your life stops what you feel is debilitating then you yourself will decide to consult a doctor. NOT before. Honest medicine task is not there to improve your quality of life unless there is some risk in not intervening by treatment. Suppose you try to commit suicide then antidepressants are there to help. But if you feel a little depressed you don't go to a doc. many things can help, music, sports, reading, entertainment etc...  But as thatquietgirl tells you you can google if you wish about BP to get informed.

The reason i say this is that I read plenty of stories in other forums about people who were suffering a little and went to see a pdoc who put them on drugs. They became in a worse condition because you keep trying all sorts of combo and can't stop the drugs either, etc... withdrawals , side effects, ..

Incidentally everybody is somehow psychologically unstable and this you read in the preface of any textbook in psychology. So don't let any transient feeling disturbs you or put you on alert. Nothing is alarming until you start really to suffer tremendously to the extent that you can't go to college say or concentrate anymore, etc...in that case pdocs are deemed necessary
good luck

[thatquietgirl]

To receive the diagnosis of being bipolar, you must meet a certain number of symptoms over a certain period of time.  I'd google bipolar disorder symptoms, and if it describes you, then seek help.

No doctor can convince you you are bipolar.  I think you'll know if it fits you or not once you see the symptoms.  Hallmarks are periods of depression and periods of mania/hypomania (elevated mood, grandiose thinking, rapid thoughts, rapid speech, irritability, increased/decreased appetite, lack of sleep yet still energetic, etc.).  Psychosis (auditory and visual hallucinations) can accompany either depending on the type of bipolar disorder you have; however, you do not have to experience psychosis to have bipolar.  You can also have periods of mixed episodes (depression and mania/hypomania going on) or rapid cycling (quickly going between both).  Of course, you will also have periods of feeling normal happiness, sadness, etc.

I think Adel was trying to point out that bipolar disorder gets overdiagnosed, and it is true, but if the shoe fits...  You can't keep people from seeking help or discourage people from it just because some psychiatrists misdiagnose it.  Besides, the increase in those diagnosed doesn't necessarily mean overdiagnosis is that rampant.  It's also possible it's part of society becoming more accepting of mental illnesses existing and realizing it's a brain chemical imbalance and getting help.

If you have anymore questions, Emma, feel free to ask!

[adel_ezz]

you don't fetch for a disease. it's easy, the disease will fetch for you. there was this funny story of a pregnant woman who asked her mother how would she know the date of labor. her mother told her your neighbors will tell you. She meant as she will be screaming so her neighbors will be notified.

i don't want to be more sarcastic but you may NOT be bipolar but as you will see a doctor then you will be diagnosed bipolar. So in the fact it's exactly the opposite of what you said. so you are not bipolar until you see a doctor who will automatically convince you so. The no of BP pts is in the rise worldwide, they reckon 4% of any population. Don't throw yourself into hell until you ought to.

when you have bipolar disorder everybody will discover it perhaps except yourself.